Zephyrs 6, Redbirds 4

With Jake Marisnick driving in two runs, New Orleans’ took a 4-0 lead by the second inning then held off Memphis in the series opener Friday night at Zephyr Field.

The victory was the third in a row and fourth in five games for the Zephyrs (48-47) and ended a three-game losing streak against Memphis (45-48). The Redbirds swept the Z’s in Memphis in the teams’ previous series on July 4-6.

Marisnick led off the game with a homer, and his infield single in the second scored Juan Diaz from third base. Danny Black scored on a passed ball after Jordany Valdespin struck out, and Marisnick scored on Mark Cahna’s single.

Memphis came within two runs of the lead three times, the last at 6-4 on Scott Moore’s solo homer leading off the eighth.

Jordany Valdespin entered Friday’s game on a five-game hitting streak in which he had batted 8-for-18 (.444).

During that span, he had a home run, a triple, three RBI and six runs, with seven walks and no strikeouts, the result of being more patient and disciplined at the plate. His on-base percentage was .600, and he also stole two bases.

He also had gotten a hit in eight of his past nine games, going 12-for-33 with three homers and nine walks. He has raised his batting average to .275.

Just as important, Valdespin, primarily an infielder, has filled in well in the outfield with Jake Marisnick having been called up for spells with the Miami Marlins.

Having gained the reputation as a hothead and someone who doesn’t endear himself to teammates, he has not had any incidents since being ejected from a game earlier in the season.

Extra bases

Friday’s game was delayed 24 minutes because of the threat of rain. … Memphis left-hander Marco Gonzales made his Triple-A debut Friday night. Gonzales is the No. 5 prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization and was a a first-round draft pick in 2013. He had been called up to the Cardinals from Double-A Springfield but went 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA. … Center fielder Jake Marisnick kept up his hot July on Friday, hitting a solo home runs in the first inning. Heading into the game, Marisnick had batted 11-of-32 (.344) in seven games since coming back on June 30 from the Miami Marlins, where he spent two weeks. He had gotten a hit in five of his past six games, including multiple hits in four. Of course, that span was interrupted by another call-up from July 3-6. In four consecutive games starting July 7 — the series against Oklahoma City — Marisnick batted 9-of-19 (.473) … Memphis pitcher Angel Castro will replace Nashville Sounds pitcher Jimmy Nelson on the Pacific Coast League All-Star team. Nelson, who has the lowest ERA (1.46) in minor league baseball, was called up by the Milwaukee Brewers ... After losing five games in a row, including being swept three games at Memphis, the Z’s won three of their next four. … Memphis won seven of eight games after a seven-game losing streak.